Discussion Questions for Freedom from Tyranny of the Urgent
1. List the two or three most important goals in your life for the next six months to a year.
2. When did you last take at least a full hour to check your direction and take your
bearings?
3. What aspect of the kingdom of God is most meaningful to you at present?
4. Have you ever been in the position of Martha and Mary as they sent an urgent request
to Jesus and received no answer?
5. In what way has your new life in Christ changed your outlook in an important area of
life?
6. In what way do you feel the Holy Spirit is guiding you to discern and do the will of
God?
7. Explain the difference between efficient and effective. Give an example.
8. To what extent do you feel that your priorities need to be reordered at this point?
9. What parallels do you see between the use of time and the use of money—between
spending hours and spending dollars?
10. To what extent are you taking into account the difference between quantity and
quality time in relationships?
11. How does the contrast between people and things open a window into your activities?
12. For an important activity that needs more priority, where can you find the additional
time?
13. Do you recognize a “basic satisfaction” (sense of achievement) that you gain in
certain tasks you really enjoy? If so, list some of those tasks.
14. To what extent are you likely to do “impulse spending” of energy on unscheduled
activities?
15. What place does a “time out” have in your schedule? If it has not been your habit, do
you feel ready to try it during the next couple of weeks? If so, write down the time you
will set aside.
You may print and distribute these discussion questions for individual or group use.
Provided by InterVarsity Press
Downers Grove, Illinois
www.ivpress.com
16. What impresses you most about Bonhoeffer’s comments on meditation and Scripture?
17. In what area of your own life have you heard Jesus’ call to “go . . . sell . . . give . . .
come . . . follow”?
18. How would you explain to someone the importance of Christ’s resurrection in your
life?
19. To what extent are you living in the past or future in some area of your life?
20. How can you learn from Brother Lawrence’s “practice of the presence of God” in the
ordinary tasks you face today?
21. How have the Scriptures been equipping you for Christian life and service? List
certain passages that have been meaningful lately.
22. What principles of biblical interpretation do you find most helpful?
23. What is the chief benefit of praying the Psalms? Consider using those quoted here as
a basis for your prayer during this next week.
24. What light does Father Andrew’s statement throw on the way you have been seeking
answers to your prayers?
25. What activities of “genuine recreation” would you most like to pursue?
26. List three ways (even if small ones) in which you can create and use leisure time in
your life right now.
27. At present do you feel the passage of time to be more a tyrant or a friend?
28. List several occasions when your inner time was very different from your outer time.
What were the causes?
You may print and distribute these discussion questions for individual or group use.
Provided by InterVarsity Press
Downers Grove, Illinois
www.ivpress.com